Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – The chart of fuel price comparisons in various countries throughout the world gives focus to my long-held belief that our Government’s fuel tax policies are completely cynical at best and mendacious at worst.
Looking through the price differentials between diesel and unleaded petrol in 28 countries quoted in a recent survey, only four others join us in having dearer diesel than petrol Estonia and Bulgaria (but only by 1.68 and 1.72 units), Switzerland and USA (by 5 units, but their fuel costs are half of ours).
This price differential is obviously driven by the increasing popularity of oil burners which are greatly improved from in the past with better torque characteristics, greater longevity and efficiency and almost silence. Thus the market for diesel has expanded exponentially in recent years.
The Government reaction has been to apply fuel taxes which have no relationship to production costs. I have always been led to believe that petrol is invariably dearer to refine.
It is galling to note that of the 28 countries in a survey, only one, Latvia, sold both fuels at the same price. Switzerland was even worse than GB with a 6.6% premium on diesel, which beats our 4% hike.
The other 22 countries all price diesel cheaper, by up to 23.3% in the Netherlands, while Belgium, Portugal, Greece, Germany, Finland, and Luxembourg all benefit from over 10% lower prices for diesel.
We, the poor motorists, and the whole transport industry must make our distaste known for the cynical fuel policies which are being foisted upon us.
Iain Anderson.76 Hill Street,Monifieth.
Councillors must support constituents
Sir, – VisitScotland has never used advertisements featuring landscapes including windfarms to promote tourism in Scotland. Their reasoning should be obvious.
Fife councillors will shortly meet to consider the prospect of 10 giant windturbines being planted on Clatto Hill. Their impact on Fife’s tourism industry must be at the forefront of their minds.
If they approve these plans it will would be setting a precedent for permitting ever more windfarms to devastate Fife’s landscape.
A recent survey by VisitScotland reveals that Fife benefited from revenues of £173 million from 690,000 visitors in 2010. Furthermore, there are thousands of Fifers employed by the tourism industry, making substantial contributions to the Fife economy.
The council received no response from VisitScotland when they requested their opinion about the Clatto Hill windfarms. Letters were sent to the wrong address. No attempt was made to find the correct address, which has resulted in no opinion from VisitScotland.
This is a material omission on the part of the council’s planners.
I urge our councillors to protect Fife’s valuable tourism industry. Now is the time for our councillors to stand up for their constituents and reject these windfarms.
Stavros Michaelides.Wester Waltonhill,Chance Inn,Cupar.
Puzzling road safety statistics
Sir, – A national strategy for an ageing car-driving population is vital, according to Whitehall advisory body the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (“Safety body wants national strategy on ageing drivers”, Courier, March 12).
The report says that reductions in the number of people killed or seriously injured on the roads have fallen far more slowly among older drivers. Later, it says that pedestrian deaths and serious injuries had fallen much less for those over 80 than for younger drivers.
If it is drivers the road safety body is worried about, the statistics quoted do not seem to refer to them, but to pedestrians. It is puzzling.
However, there have been several calls in recent years for older drivers to undergo periodic driving tests to ensure they are still fit to drive.
I am 80 and make a 1,000-mile round trip to Dorset at least once a year and drive almost daily. I reckon I am as safe a driver as any in their 20s, 30s and 40s, having been involved in very few accidents, only two of which were serious and I was stationary on both occasions!
The remainder were minor bumps usually down to icy road conditions. In none of the incidents was anybody injured.
However, a driving test every few years would not bother me. In fact, it would be rather welcome and interesting to see how I fared.
The only aspect that troubles me is the cost. Perhaps a charge could be made, but, if no driving offence were recorded against the driver concerned in the intervening three to five years, then the cost of the test could be reimbursed.
George K McMillan.5 Mount Tabor Avenue,Perth.
Warm home discount delay
Sir, – All energy suppliers have a responsibility to provide people on certain benefits a warm home discount of £120.
I applied for it on the first day the applications went live in October. I am still waiting.
ScottishPower say they have until the end of the month to apply credits to their customers and it seems that they are delaying the payments as long as they possibly can.
I am wondering if any readers have had their payment yet. The scheme is supposed to help people through the winter but it is not much help if energy companies have had money from struggling customers particularly on payment meters.
Gordon Kennedy.117 Simpson Square,Perth.
Get involved: to have your say on these or any other topics, email your letter to letters@thecourier.co.uk or send to Letters Editor, The Courier, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL. Letters should be accompanied by an address and a daytime telephone number.